Storage tank for oils



Sept. 2, 1930. "J. F. PATTERSON 1,774,943

Filed Oct. 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 WH I l I w Jbhn I. fiai'i'erson,

p 1930- I J. F. PATTERSON 1,774,943

STORAGE TANK FOR OILS Filed Oct. 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwwrhlioz;

Jo hz z E'Ba Henson,

atbozmq Patented Sept. 2, 1930 UNrrEn, sT Es PATENT OFFICE Jon I. PATTERSON, or WARREN, onro, AssmNoR TO THE; WARREN CITY 'rANxa BOILER comm, or WARREN, 01110, A coRroRA'rroN or OHIO l n STO AGE rANxro oins Application filed Octoberfil, 1927. Serial No. 227,831.

My invention relates to new and useful im- I provements in storage tanks for oils and cover is provided to I more particularly to a. type of storage tank that is provided with a floating deck. 1-

In the present application I have shown 7 a storage tank provided with both a floating deckand a roof or dome so that the tank is gas-tightwith theexception of a vent provided in the dome thereof; ,1

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a large storage tank for oils and other liquids wherein there is provided a floatingdeck that covers a major portion of the oil and floats thereon to thus reduce the losses from evaporation, and reduce-the fire hazard, while at the same time a dome or prevent rain or snow from entering the tank Still another object of the invention is to provide a st'oragetank with a top or cover 1 having a vent at the topthereof so that when the tank is filled and emptied, air will have a free passage in and out of the tank without building up a pressure either internally or externally of the tank.

' Still another object of the invention is to provide a storage tank having a dome or .cover and also a. floating deck and to further provide swinging outlet means for the oil,

which means'rises and falls with thedeck as the tank is filled and emptied.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a storage tank for oils wherein there is provided a floating deck and wherein means are provided for correctly centering the deck at all times in its rising and falling movement, also to provide further means for indicating the height of the liquid in the tank and safety devices in the way of alarms and signalsshould the tank be filled beyond its capacity;

The presentapplication is one of the several companion cases filed by me on even date herewith and bearing Serial Numbers 227,829,227,830,2217,832 and 227,833.

With the above and numerous other objects in view as will be more fully explained as the specification proceeds, the invention consists in new and novel arrangements and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully explained and pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings, showingapreferred embodiment of the invention Fig. 1 is a large sectional view of the tank showing the floating deck, the dome, vent,

as arranged near the iipper edge of the tank, Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detailed view partly in section of the indicator for showing the depth of the liquid in the tank,

Fig. 6 shows a somewhat different float used with other than a floating deck,

Fig. 7 is a top plan of a sump at the bottom of-the tank, and

Fig. 8 is a section taken thereof. Referring now to the drawings and to Fig. 1 in particular, there is shown a large storage tank 1 composed of a metal shell, a bottom 2 and the stationary roof or dome 3 that is se: curely riveted to the upper edge of the shell or sides of the tank'l. This upper edge may be reinforced by the angle 4, and in the same manner the bottom may be reinforced by angles 5 orother means so that the tank will properly hold theliquid tobe stored therein without bulging or bending the' tank.

At the top of the dome cover 3 there is vent, forms the subjectrnatter of a companion on line 8-8 shown a vent 6 which may be held normally 60 Flg. 3 1s asectlonal view (if the relief valve case filed of even date and bearing Serial Number 227,830.

Now, positioned within the tank 1 there may be seen a floating deck or cover 7 that is,

perforate with the exception of the small protected opening 9 thru which extends the upright members of an inside ladder 10, the uprights being secured to the interior surface of the dome 3 as at 11. The lower ends of the uprights may be fastened to the short arms 12 as may be seen in Fig. 1 while suitable rungs 13 are provided on the uprights to form the ladder.

The upright members may be formed of angle bars and rollers (not shown) may be secured to the lower surface of the deck to bear against the uprights of the ladder, the rollers being placed beneath the deck and thus beneath the upper surface of the oil to avoid any sione ladder.

It is necessary to provide means for supporting this deck when the tank is empty and as may be seen'in Fig. 1, I provide a plurality of feet 14 which are formed of angle iron and properly placed and braced, so that if the deck comes to rest as shown by siparks that otherwise might be occaby the contact of the rollers and the the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the floating deck will be properly supported on these feet.

In one of the companion cases, I have shown more fully, how thebottom of the deck is supported but it will beesuflicient here to state that enough of these feet will be provided to support the deck on the bottom of the tank should the tank become empt Still referring to Fig. 1 there will also be seen means for properly centering the floating deck in its rise and fall'within the tank.

Secured to the feet that are arranged around i the under periphery of the floating deck, are the fingers or guides 15 which are pivotally mounted as at 16 on the small bolts 17 on which bolts are positioned the'small springs 18, the upper end of the fingers being so fastened to the bolts that the springs will tend to push the lower end of thefingers tightly against the inner surface of the shell or sides of the tank.

Thus' these fingers act as a deck guide as the deck rises and falls with the liquid and properly centers the deck in its rising and falling movement, as well as in the stationary position that itoccupies between'the filling or emptying of the tank.

These fingers,-it will be seen, are also al ways below the surface of the oil so that there will be no friction to cause sparks to ignite the oil or gases that might be in the tank.

It will be seen thatthese fingers as well as the ladder always properly center the deck in its rising and falling movement.

Special means are provided for discharging the stored liquid from the tank which consists of the pipes 19 and 20 with a swing joint 21 connecting their adjacent ends to gether while a further swing joint 22 is provided at the other end of the pipe 20 and secured to the outlet discharge 23, and its valve 23';

Although only two pieces of pipe'19 and .20 are shown itv will be understood that a number of sections may make up thesetwo sections-19 and 20. j

Now, the upper end of this pipe l1ne is supported by providing a small rail 24 on which is supported the trolley 25 which in turn is fastened -to the elbow 26 on the end of the pipe '19. As the deck rises and falls therewhich in turn is fastened a chain 28, the upper end of the chain being supported by the similar trolley 29 that rides within the rail or housing 30 that is likewise fastened to the under surface of the deck, similar to the housing 24.

IVith these trolley supports on the under surface of the deck, both the pipe sections and the swing joint are properly supported from the deck and allowance also made for theshifting positions of the pipes.

In dotted lines at the bottom of Fig; 1, there is shown the pipe line discharge in its folded position. Of course the chain 28 does not support the swing joint when the sections are folded, but this dotted line position shows.

how the deck will be supported when there is no oil in the tank. It will also be understood that after the tank is once placed in operation however, it will be kept full or nearly full at alltimes.

' In Fig. 2, the swinging pipe sections are shown with the chain and trolleys removed 'sothat its structure may be more plainly understood.

Referring now for the moment to Figs. 1 and 5, there is shown an indicator 31 for denoting the height of the liquid within the tank, that is, after the tank is partly full which will be the normal condition.

Glancing therefore more particularly at Fig. 5, there-may be seen a skeleton housing consisting of the bolts 32 which are fastened at one end in a casting 33 and in a small plate 34 at their upper end. This casting may be provided with an arched base 35 to be fastened to the cover or dome 3 by rivets or bolts. There is a central opening thru the casting while secured to this rod is the disc 38 of any desired color so that it may be plainly read from the ground. The length of the bolts 32 and the rod 37 may be as desired so-that the position of the plate 38 within its housing will designate the height of the liquid within the tank.

There is a small foot 39 .on the end of the rod 37 which bears against the floating deck 7 after the liquid reaches a certain height, and

the foot andits rod 37 of course are actuated I by the deck rising within the tank.

In the upper casting or plate 34 I have shown an electric'contact so that when the plate 38 is at its upper extreme limit it ma ring a bell or light a signal lamp (not shown so that the proper person may be warned that the tank is filled to its danger limit.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a small float 40 that might be used on the bottom of the telltale rod 37 in case a floating deck were not used in the tank. 7

Even with an indicator I have found it best to also provide an overflow valve as of course the stored liquid in the tank must notgo above a certain point or otherwise it would swamp the deck.

In Figs. 3 and 4, therefore, I have shown a detail of a relief valve or overflow valve 41 which will prevent a further rising of the deck as the liquid will raise the small check valve 42 and overflow around the sides thereof.

There is a dome 43 over the check valve, as may be seen, to keep any 'im urities or water from running into the tank and, the check valve being normally closed will also prevent any gas from escaping out of the same. 3 v I Now, in Figs. 7 and 8, I have showna small sump or well 44 from which may lead a small pip (not shown) so that any water or sediment that collects in the bottom of the tank may flow into this small well or sump, and then be drained from the same. The inlet pipe 45 preferably extends into this sump but to avoid agitating the water or sediment in this well when the oil is being pumped into the tank, there is a baflle plate preferably formed of two parts covering a major portion of the well, but small enough in diameter to provide a circular opening all around the outer edge of the baflle plate and the side of the sump for the water and sediment to flow into the sump v The operation of the variousparts of the tank are easily understood.

Oil will be pumped into the inlet pipe 45 to fill the tank, and as the tank fills, the deck will float on the liquid and will always rise and fall with the liquid in the tank. As the deckapproaches' its upper limit the indicator will function, plainly showing the amount of liquid in the tank. Should the tank become dangerously full the electric alarm will be sounded, as heretofore explained, and the relief valve will overflow if any further oil is pumped intothe tank.

-As the deck rises and falls it will be always centered by the smallfingers and the sections of swinging pipe thatform the discharge line will open. and close and travel horizontally slightly by the provisions of the tirollieys secured to the under surface of the Any air or gas above the deck and beneath thru the tortuous passage in the vent 6 (which vent per se forms the subject matter of a separate application) so that no pressure will 'blllld up within the dome of the tank.

It will be understood that the valve 23' is conventional and any form of cutoff valve and line may be used at this point.

It will also be seen that the weight of these the dome cover may escape or be drawn in pipes is supported by, the floating-deck, 'so

that they should give continuous service without any necessity of repairing.

The fire hazard is greatly reduced asthe vent is so arranged that it is impossible for a flame to pass down thru the ,vent to the stored li uid.

he floating deck also revents or tends to prevent evaporation an by floating-on the liquid reduces the chances ofcombustion as may be well understood.

Many changes might be made in the details Y of construction and of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. I

I am aware that it isold to provide a tank with a floating deck and to provide a form of swinging pipe, and I do not claim my invention as such, but what I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tank' for storing oils and other liquids provided with a floating deck, a discharge pipe line having a hinged joint therein and a hinged joint at its lower end where it connects to the side of the tank, means carried on'the under surface of the deck for supporting the-pipe line as the deck rises and falls within the tank, said means comprising a freely end of the pipe line, and a further freely slidable memberconnected to the pipe line at the first-mentioned hinged join 2. tankfor storing oils and other liquid provlded with a floating deck, a discharge pipe line hinged atits lower end to the side.

slidable member to support the upper of the tank and shiftably secured at its upper end and provided with a swing joint at its central portion, a trolley movable on the under side of the deck' and secured to the upper end of the pipe line, a second trolley supportin the pipe line at the swing joint whereby t e weight of the pipe line is car ried by the floating deck and the upper end of the pipe line may shift slightly with rela tion to the floating deck as the same rises and falls within the tank;

3. A tank for storing oils and other liquids provided with a floating deck, a pipe line for the discharge of the liquid, a hinged joint about centrally of the line, tracks on the undersurface of said deck and trolleys onsaid tracks, one supporting the pipe line at its upper end, and the other supporting the pipe line at the hinged joint, whereby the line may shift horizontally'as well as be movable vertically when the deck rises and falls within the tank. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN F. PATTERSON. 

